Valve mechanism for engines.



No. 831.809. PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1906 G. L. W. THINKS. VALVE MECHANISMFOR ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28.1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR.

PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1906.

C. L. W. TRINKS.' VALVE MECHANISM FOR ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28.1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG- 2.

INVENTOR.

WITN E5355.

7H: noun: PBYERS cm, mumnarou. n. c

PATBNTED SEPT. 25, 1906.

0. L. W. THINKS. VALVE MECHANISM FOR ENGINES.

APPLICATION IILBD MAY 28. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 TO .HAND LEVER 7'0 save-non nown 7'0 COVENOR U P UNITEDs'rATns PATENT oFFIoE CHARLES L. WV. TRINKS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE MECHANISM FOR ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1906.

Application filed May 28, 1906. fierial No. 319,127.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. IV. TRINKS, a subject of the GermanEmperor, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and usefulImprovements in Valve Mechanism for Engines, of which improvements thefollowing is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements incut-off mechanism for reversing-engines, and has for its object aconstruction whereby the steam is gradually cut off with increasingspeed independent of the direction of rotation of the engine and alsowithout affecting the hand mechanism for operating the reversing of thegear regardless of the position of such hand-operated device.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a diagram representing the action of the eccentrics in areversing-engine. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are side elevations of portions ofthe reversing-engine, illustrating diagrammatically my improvedvalve-gear and governor in different positions. Figs. 5- and 7 aresimilar views illustrating another form or embodiment of the invention,and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 7.Figs. 8 and 9 are side elevations illustrat ing a modification of thelink-and-block construction shown in the other figures, suchmodification involving the substitution of an adjustable eccentric andstrap for the link and block. Fig. 10 is a sectional view on a planeindicated by the line X X, Fig. 8.

In rolling-mill engines whose speed is at all times controlled by theoperator the control of the speed has heretofore been effected almostexclusively by the throttle. This form of control is wasteful ascompared to the economy effected by the expansion and use of steam, asin automatic engines or engines of the Corliss type.

My invention relates to reversing-gears in which the resultant eccentricmoves across the shaft with a small change of lead. In suchreversing-gears a number of eccentrics or their equivalents areprovided, and a link motion is arranged in such a way that theengine-valve is moved in exactly the same manner as though it weredriven directly from the eccentric whose center is located at A, Fig. 1,when the crank is on the dead-center and when the engine runs in thedirection of arrow 1. For reversing, the link-motion is operated, andthe center of the resultant eccentric is shifted from A over B, C, and Dto E. While it is shifted from A to B the cutoff is shortened fromthree-quarters forward to about one-half forward. At C the cut-off iszero. At D it is one-half backward, and at E it is three-quartersbackward. The fact that the cut-off is shortened near the centralposition of the link-motions is known to all skilled in the art and hasbeen the basis of schemes to increase the economy at lightloads byenabling the operator to have the link-motion under easy control at alltimes. The mechanical element which has been generally adopted for thispurpose is the floating lever --that is, a lever with three connections;

one to the hand of the operator, one to a valve controlling the motionof a fluid-pressureoperated piston which in turn operates the reversingmechanism, and a third connection to the fluid-pressure-actuated piston,said son: The resistance of the steel to the rolls is practicallyindependent of the speed of rolling. The fly-wheel effect on therotating parts in a reversing-engine is very small. These two factscombined produce the result that with a wideopen throttle the enginestalls if the cut-off is slightly too short and runs away if the cut-offis slightly too long in counterdistinction to an engine having aconstant long cut-off and a given area of steam admission controlled bythe throttle, wherein the differences of pressure control the rate offlow of the steam, and therefore operates similar to a governor. It is afact known to all who have had experience with rolling-millreversing-engines that operators use the throttle almost exclusively anddo not use the variable cut-ofi on account of the great difficultiesencountered in cndeavoring to control the engine with the cut-off. Thisdifficulty is overcome in my invention by in- This floating leverorhand-lever for operating the reversing ton-rod 4 in Fig. 3.

' step by step.

mechanism and the pilot-valve of the reversing mechanism, saidinterposed mechanism havmg'the characteristic that the cut-off isshortened with increasing speed by the action of the governor regardlessof the direction of rotation of the engine or the position of thehand-actuated element of the reversing mechanism.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 illustrate one form of my invention in which the shaft1 is employed to operate the reversing mechanismas, for example, thelinks or the swinging lever. A lever 2 is rigidly fastened to thisshaft, so as to rotate therewith, said lever being shown at Figs. 2 and4 in mid-position corresponding to zero cut-ofl or to point C in Fig. 1.In Fig. 3 this lever or rocker-arm is shown in two positions. The solidlines show it in a position for maximum cut-0H forward corresponding topoint A in Fig. 1 and the dotted center line showing it in position formaximum cut-ofl forward corresponding to point E in Fig. 1. Rocker-armor lever 2 is con-' nected to the piston 5 of the fluid-pressurecylinder of the reversing mechanism by pis- The movements of piston 5and the controlling-valve 6 are interdependent through the medium of asuitable mechanism, as the floating lever 7, which is connected by link8 to the lever or rockerarm 2. For any position of lever 2 point 10 oflever 7 is a fixed point or fulcrum, so that the valve 6 is opened byany displacement of the hand-controlled point, as 9, of lever 7. Theslightest movement of valve 6 admits steam on one side of the piston 5,moving it and closing valve 6 by means of connections from any suitablepart of the reversing mech 'anism to lever 7, which moves on the pointto which the hand-controlled mechanism is connected as a fulcrum. Themotion which is caused by the action of the valve 6, the piston 5, andthe floating lever 7 is just the same as though point 11 were a fixedfulcrum about which lever 7 swings, moving lever 2 by means of link 8,and as though the moving of the reversing-gear required little or nopower. This action of the floating lever and the power-cylinder foroperating the reversing-gear is so well known to all skilled in the artthat it will not be'followed Instead point 11 will be called the idealfulcrum of lever 7, and it will be understood that lever 2 and thereversinggear follow the motion of lever 7.

Its motion raises or lowers rod 15 16 is a lever 12. by means of lever13 and link 14.

centrifugal governor, which by means of belllink-block 20, and block 20is slidable on The op- 'erators hand takes hold of the reversehandcurved link 19. Link 19 is pivotally connected at point 21'to anyfixed part of the engine. The inclination of curved link 19 is so chosenthat with governor down, (that is for slow speed of engine,) Figs. 2 and3, a motion of hand-lever 12 through its entire range moves free end 9of floating lever 7 through its entire rangenamely, from solid-lineposition, Fig. 3, through position of Fig. 2, to dotted-line position ofFig. 3. Point 11 being the ideal fulcrum of lever 7, reversinglever 2 isin this case thrown from extreme forward position to extreme backwardposition, and vice versa. With governor down the point 9 will have itsmaximum movement for a given movement of the reverse handlever. When thespeed increases sufficiently to raise governor 16, curved link 19 isgradually pulled from the position of Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 into the positionshown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4that is, greatest speed of engine and highestposition of governorlink 19 is concentric with top 9 of lever 7 in itsmidposition. Hand-lever 12 can therefore be swung throughout its entirerange without'in any way affecting the position of lever 7. Sincefloating lever '7 is held in mid-position, reversing-lever 2 stays inmid-position irrespective of the position of hand-lever 12. Thereforethe engine is held at zero cut-off corresponding to point C of Fig. 1.It is evident that for an intermediate position of governorforinstance,'halfway between the position of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4theinclination of curved link 19 will also be half-way between thepositions shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, and that consequently the distancethrough which point 9 can be swung to either side from mid-position willonly be one-half of the displacement shown in Fig. 3. The resultanteccentric, Fig. 1, can therefore only swing between points half-waybetween C A and O Ethat is, it can be swung between the points B and D.This condition corresponds to a range of cutoff from about onehalfcut-off forward through Zero to about one-half cut-off backward. In Fig.2 the reversing hand-lever 12 is shown in mid-position. In this positioncenter of link-block 20 coincides with fulcrum 21 of curved link 19.-The governor has no influence on the floating lever 7, because it tiltslink 19 about the center of link-block 20 without moving rod 15. It istherefore evident that the influence of the governor is the smaller thenearer the reversing hand-lever is to midposition. The operation of themechanism shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 may be briefly summed up asfollows: For governor in lowest position a movement of hand-lever 12between its extreme positions causes the reversing-lever 2 to travelfrom extreme position forward to extreme positionbackward, and viceversa. As the governor begins to rise the inclination of curved link 19changes and point 9 is shifted toward its mid-position. Therefore anymotion of lever 12 is transmitted to lever 7 only in a reduced degree.The reduction is the greater the higher the governor has risen and thefloating lever isfinally held in mid-position when the governor is inhighest position. For a given rise of the governor the shifting of point9 toward its mid-position is the smaller the nearer lever 12 stands toits midposition. It is important and characteristic for my mechanismthat the two motions rise of governor 16 and swing of reversinglever12do not interfere with each other. Either motion can take place withoutdisturbing the other, and the position of the reversing-lever 2 and ofthe reversing-gear is simply a resultant of the positions of the twocomponent moving elements 16 and 12. The application of this cut-offmechanism to a reversing-engine makes steam economy possible. Theoperator throws the reversing hand-lever back and forth between itsextreme position in the usual way; but instead of regulating the speedentirely by the throttle he can now run with an almost open throttle,because the governor will automatically vary the cutoff, and therebyadapt the supply of steam to the consumption of power by the rolls.

In the drawings I have shown several arrangements which are merely typesof mechanism embodying my invention. It ischaracteristic of myimprovement that the distance of the element employed for shifting thepilot-valve from mid-position is proportional to the distance of thelever 12 or the hand-operated lever from mid-position and its range ofmovement from mid-position is reduced by change in condition of thegovernor from lowest to highest position. The terms lowest and highestas herein used refer to the position of the governor when speed of the.engine is lowest and highest, respectively.

l/Vithout evading the spirit of my invention the same action can beobtained by an arrangement of parts different from that shown in Figs.2, 3, and 4. For instance, a curved link may be provided which is tiltedby hand and from which motion is trans mitted .to the floating lever bya link-block and a rod. The link-block is moved along the link by agovernor in such a way that for governor all the way down the motion ofthe hand is transmitted unaltered to the floating lever and that forgovernor in highest position the center of the link-block coincides withthe fulcrum of the link, locking the floating lever in'mid-position.Such an ar rangement would not be a different mechanism, but simply akinematic transformation of the arrangement shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have shown another embodiment or construction ofmy improve-.

ment, and in these views the parts shown corresponding to those shown inFigs. 2, 3, and 4 arelettered to correspond therewith. To the top pin 9of floating lever 7 is pivotally connected a link-block 25, which inturn is slidable on a curved link 26. otally connected to lever 28 infulcrum 27. Lever 28 is rigidly connected to lever 29 through shaft 30.Lever 29 is controlled by governor 16 through bell-crank 17 and rod 18.ranged that in lowest position of governor fulcrum 27 of link 26coincides with ideal fulcrum 11 of floating lever 7. At the top 31 link26 is pivotally connected to rod 32, which rod is controlled by the handof the operator. \Vith governor in lowest position, Fig. 5, fulcrum 27and ideal fulcrum 11 coincide. Top 9 of floating lever 7 and top 31 oflink 26 also coincide. Consequently any motion of the operators hand istransmitted unaltered to floating lever 7 just as though rod 32 werefastened directly to pin 9. The location of center of shaft 30 and thelengths of levers 28 and 29 are so chosen that with governor in highestposition fulcrum 27 coincides with top 9 of lever 7 for mid-position ofthis lever 7. V (This condition is not shown in the illustrations.) Thatbeing the case, any motion of the operatorshand and of rod 32 willsimply tilt link 26 about its fulcrum without changing the position offloating lever 7. The floating lever is therefore locked in mid-positionfor highest position of governor, and consequently lever 2, whichcontrols the reversing gear, is held in mid-position, so that theresultant eccentric is shifted to and held at C, 1, cutting off steamalmost entirely. Fig. 7 shows this same mechanism with the governor 16midway between top and bottom position and for two positions of thehand-controlled link 26-namely, for extreme position forward (solidlines) and extreme position backward, (dotted lines.) The governor nowholds lever 28 midway between bottom position, Fig. 5, and top position.(Not shown.) The weight of lever 28, link 26, and part of rod 32 has tobe counterbalanced either by a weight or by a spring; but thecounterbalancingbeing immaterial for the principle of my invention ithas been omitted in the drawings. Since block 25 is pivotally connectedto pin 9 and since link 26 has been raised half-way, block 25 is nowmidway between points 27 and 31. It is evident that in this position ofthe mechanism the influence of the motion of the hand-operated rod 32 onpoint 9 is reduced and that the greatest swing of point 9 in Fig. 7 isonly one-half of the greatest swing of point 9 in Fig. 5. For a throw ofthe hand-operated rod 32 from extreme position forward to extremeposition backward the floating lever 7 will in Fig. 7 only go fromhalf-way forward Link 26 is piv-.

Lever 28 and curved link 26 are so ar-.

to half-way backward. Since the reversinggear which is coupled toshaft-1 follows themotion of the floating lever, the ideal eccentric canbe swung between the limits of B and D only, Fig. 1, for a full throw ofhand-lever between extreme forward position and extreme backwardposition. The curvature of link 26 and the location of the free end ofrod 32 are preferably to be so chosen that points 9 and 9 are at thesame distance from mid-position of floating lever in order to have thesame'cut-off backward and forward for a given position of governor-thatis, speed of engine.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10 I have shown aneccentric 34 and strap 35 in lieu of the link and sliding block pair. Inthis construction the strap is connected by a rod 37 to the pilot-valvepreferably through the medium of the floating lever 7. The eccentric 34is adjustably mounted on a shaft 38, which is secured to a stationarypart of the engine. An arm 39 is secured to the eccentric and connectedto the hand 0perated reversing-lever, so that by the shifting of theeccentric by the hand-lever the eccentric is so changed in position asto reversely operate the valves of the engine. As shown, the eccentriccan be shifted across theshaft to vary its eccentricity from maximum tozero and the reverse. This change in eccentricity is effected by thegovernor, which is connected by the rod-18 to one arm of a bell-cranklever 40, having its other arm connected by a rod 41 to a strap 42,secured to the eccentric; This construction closely resembles alink-and-block pair in which the link is adjustable relative to theblock.

The mechanism herein described allows the governor to shorten thecut-off automaticallywithincreasingspeednomatterwhether the engine runsforward or backward no matter where the hand-operated reversingleverstands. It also allows the operator to throw the reversing-lever withperfect ease no matter where the governor stands and without reactingupon the governor. The governing mechanism is entirely automatic anddoes not tax the operator with any more work than he has to perform whencontrolling the engine entirely by the throttle.

The herein-described mechanism admits of many variations in detaildesign and in the arrangement of linkages without evading the spirit of'my invention.

I claim herein as my invention 1. A reversing-engine having incombination a reversing mechanism, a floating lever controlling suchmechanism; means including two parts or elements movable relative one tothe other for-shifting the floating lever, a governor for shifting oneof said parts, said means being so constructed that the action of thegovernor is proportional to the distance of the other part orelementfrom mid-position.

2. In a reversmg-engme the combination of a reversing mechanism, meansfor shifting the pilot-valve of the reversing mechanism, a governor anda connection of the governor to said valve, constructed to control thespeed of the engine regardless of direction of rotation and operativeindependent of the other shifting means.

3. In a reversing-engine the combination of a reversing mechanism, afloating lever, a

link-and-block pair for operating the lever, a connection from one ofthe elements of said pair to the governor, hand-operated means forshifting the other element of the pair, said parts being so constructedand combined as to control the speed of the engine regardless of thedirection of rotation, and the elements of the link-and-block pair beingmovable without aflecting the other member of the pair or its operatingdevice.

4. In a reversing-engine the combination of a reversing means, agovernor and connection from the governor to the reversing means, suchconnection including two parts or elements, one movable relative to theother and by the governor, said connection being so constructed that theaction of the governor is proportional to the distance of the other partor element from mid-position.

5. In a reversing-engine the combination of a reversing mechanism, afloating lever, a

link and sliding bloc-k pair for shifting said lever and a governor foroperating one element of the pair, said parts being so constructed andcombined that the action of the governor is proportional to the distancefrom the other part or element from mid-position.

6. In a reversing-engine the combination of a reversing mechanism, afloating lever controlling such mechanism, hand-operated means connectedto the floating lever, a governor operative on the same point of thefloating lever to shift the same, a means for combining the operation ofthe governor and hand-operated means whereby the action of the governorwill shorten the cut-ofl with increasing speed, regardless of directionof rotation and without affecting the other operating means.

7. In a reversing-engine, the combination of a reversing means, afloating lever controlling such reversing means, a hand-operated meansfor shifting the floating lever and a cut-ofl mechanism also operativeon the floating lever and constructed to gradually reduce the swing ofthe floating lever about its central position with increasing speedwithout aflecting the operation of the handoperated means. I

8. In a reversing-engine the combination of a reversing mechanism, afloating lever controlling such reversing mechanism, a handoperatedmeans for shifting the floating lever, a cut-off mechanism constructedto regulate the action of the hand-operated means on the floating lever,whereby the action of such hand-operated means on the floating levershall be proportional to the distance which the cut-off mechanism movesfrom the position occupied while the engine is operating at its highestspeed.

9. In a reversin -engine the combination of a reversing mec ianism, ahand-operated means, a floating lever, a cut-off mechanism includingalink and block constructed to re duce the action of the governor of thecut-off mechanism on the floating lever from a given value to zero, andto increase such action while the hand-operated means is shifted fromone extreme position to mid-position, and from the latter to the otherextreme position respectively.

10. In a reversing-engine the combination of a reversing mechanism, afloating lever, a

link and sliding block pair, having one part or member connected to thefloating lever, a hand-operated means connected to one of the members ofsaid pair and a governor connected to the other member, said parts beingso constructed that a movement of the handoperated means will not affectthe position of the floating lever when the governor is in highestposition and the floating lever in mid-position and the link will havesuch eccentricity when the governor is in its lowest position that thefloating lever will be shifted through its entire range by the movementof the part operated by hand through its entire range relative to theother part.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES L. W. THINKS.

l/Vitnesses:

CHARLES BARNETT, FRIEDA E. WOLFF.

